Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-29
THAT LYNCHING.
soMH ADDITIONAL FACTS ABOUT THE
eURRY CASE.
Desperate Encounter with THETA Fe-
male Rigamist-Two Claimants
for a Child.
correspondence Of the Richmond Dispa;ch.l

lCorrespondonce of the Richmond Dispa,ch.l
PETERSBURG, July %, 1887.
Reuben Cole, the negro who was
lynched at Surry Courthouse night be-
fore last for an infamous assault com
mitted upon Mrs. II. NJ. Savedge three
weeks ago, was on that day indicted by
the grand jury and arraigned in court
for trial. Upon his arraignment he
elected to be tried in the Circuit Colrt,
which would have put his trial off until
the 18th Of November This DELAY in
the trial of a man believed to be guilty
of the heinous offence charged against
him caused strong feeling of in
dgnation, and steps were taken to
visit summary punishment on the
prisoner. The Court and county
officials seemed to have been apprised
of this state of feeling, and it
was quietly ordered by the Court that
Cole should be brought at once to the
jail in this city for safekeeping, and to
prevent any probable exhibition of vio-
lence. 1t was supposed that the order
Of the Court for the removal of the
prisoner would not become known to
any one, and whether it did or not can
not he asccrtained. Had the prisoner
submitted to trial in the County Court,
after Indictment, it is not believed that
he would have been disturbed unless
some mild punishment had been inhict-
ed upon him by the jury. The prison
er's own action in defcrring his trial
brought upon him the swift and terrible
death that was meted 10 him. The
sheriff had secretly arranged TO start
with the prisoner at . o'clock ycster-
day morning for Petersburg, accompa-
MED by a strong guard, making the
trip more secure by taking passage on
the steamer George Law and coming
direct to Petersburg by water.
Cole is said to have begged piteously
for that mercy which he brutally de-
MED his victim. His body hung for
hours On the tree upon which it was
drawn, and presented hideous and
ghastly spectacle. 1t was pierced by
bullets, evidently fired into It to make
sure of death.
sURRY DEMOCRATIC DELEGATES.
At meeting of the Democrats OF
Surry county held on Tuesday to elect
delegates to the State convention at
Roanoke the following resolution, offer
cd by DIR. NJ. Q. Holt, was unanimously
adopted
Eceoircd, That as regards the State
debt tho Democratic party is willing to
pay oil that Justice and equity de-
mand, but her disabled soldiers must
he cared for and her public schools and
charitable institutions must he sus-
tanned, and the life Of the Common
wealth preserved at all hazards.
AFEMALE BIGAlnsT.
Matte Randall dijqs Matte Trusty.
who was committed to jail in Surry
county several days ago for bigamy,
WAS on Tuesday released from custody
under q writ Of habc0s corpus. Before
She got out of the clutches OF the law,
however, she was indicted and recon
mittcd under proper proceedings.
DESPERATE ENCOUNTER WITH A THIEF.
Mr.. George l.. Moody is the pro-
prictor Of a grocery store on Washing
ton street, and to-day was absent from
business serving upon jury. During
his absence "a negro named Samuel
Bell entered the store and tn loayOred
to rob the mOney-drawer. lie was de
tcctcd in the act Ivy the porter, who at
tempted TO arrest him. The fellow
offered such vigorous resistance that
the porter had to call for aid. The
call was responded to b. James John
son lcolored), who was bitten through
the hand 10y the thief. Bell also at
tempted to use a large cheese knife, but
was prevented by the men VITA whom
he was struggling. Bell was lately
discharged from the penitcntiary, where
be Lad served term for like offence.
After being taken to the s.ation-house
he cndeavored to escape, ani had to De
handcuficd and taken to Jail.
The Hastings Court has been en-
Gagged most of the day i'll the trial OF
Betty Brooks (colored) for the murder
Of her child. The grand jury was also
in session to-day and folnd several IN
dictments.
TWO CLAIMANT TOR 4 CHILD.
A curious case was developed this
morning. Last night colOred infant
about three weeks old was lett on the
premises Of Ephriam Jones, on st.
Marks street. It's criCswere first heard
by the next-door neighbor, Fanny Bon
ncr, and the little one taken in and
cared for. Both Of these families are
childless, and both are laying vigorous
claims to the custody andadoptionoI the
infant. Their contention IS 50 great
that the services of the high constable
had 60 be called in, and the matter viii
be carried into the courts to settle the
rights of possession Of the respective
claimants.
REPORTED ARRESTS.
1t is reported here that the man
whose dead body, as published in the
IiSpGtch, was found several days ago
Oh the railroad track near Burkesville
WAS the victim OF foul play, AMI that
after his death the body was placed on
the track to I've manglcd by the cars and
prevent suspicion OF the crime. II is
furthermore reported that two or three
palties have been arrested on the sns-
pic,on Of the murder, and are held for
examination. RODlN ADMB.